Portable and collapsible support for musical instruments



J. S. TATAR PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLEJ SUPPORT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Oct. 14, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed March 14, 1949 JNVENTOR.

Joseph $.To'tur Oct. 14, 1952 J. 5. TATAR PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 14, 1949 Hill] ULIII [I1] In INVENTOR.

Joseph SJ'ctcr Patented Oct. 14, 1952 PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Joseph S. Tatar, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 14, 1949, Serial No. 81,322

- 4 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a mobile, portable and collapsible support for melody type instruments having a keyboard of several octaves.

The aforesaid instrument is an electronic instrument having a keyboard of approximately three octaves similar in construction to that of a piano or organ. The said instrument may be played in connection with any musical instrument, but is preferably used in connection with a piano, and is therefore usually attached directly to the piano keyboard. Many players, however, find it inconvenient to have their instruments attached to a single piano keyboard, thus nullifying much of the versatility of the in strument. Since many players wish to play their instruments in connection with musical instruments other than the piano or on different pianos, therefore I have provided a mobile, portable and collapsible support for melody type instruments and the like.

A most important object of my invention is to provide mobile, portable and collapsible instrument support means that is collapsible and transportable in the same carrying case with the said instrument, and that may be quickly set up in connection with a tripod as a support means for the said instrument, making it capable of being used with any other musical instrument.

A further important object of my invention is to provide mobile, portable and collapsible instrument support means to be used in connection with collapsible and adjustable tripod means for supporting said instrument.

A still further object of my invention is to provide adjustable and transportable instrument support means that is quickly and easily attachable to a conventional melody type instrument without alteration thereto.

A further important object of my invention is to provide adjustable and transportable instrument support means that is simply designed and may be economically manufactured in quantity production.

Other objects and advantages inherent in my invention will be disclosed in the following description and the accompanying illustrations, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and in which;

Fig. l is a perspective view of my invention shown with the Solovox attached thereto drawn in phantom lines and showing its connection to the tone cabinet.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my invention shown in collapsed position together with a collapsed tripod packed in the carrying case of the Solovox instrument which is drawn in phantom lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of my invention with parts broken away, showing it set up in operating position with a Solovox mounted thereon drawn in phantom lines and also showing the relative position of a piano keyboard thereto and the position of the hands on the piano keyboard and the 'Solovox keyboard, also showing the position of the knee in relation to the Solovox knee volume control.

CFig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of my invention taken substantially on line 4-4 on Fig. 3, and showing the mounting means of the collapsible channel supporting brackets.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view of the bracket mounting flange bushing taken looking in the direction of arrows 55 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top view, partly in crosssection, taken looking in the direction of arrows 6-5 on Fig. 3, and showing the telescoping tripod means of my invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged top view taken looking in the direction of arrows 1-1 on Fig. 3 and showing the Solovox attaching channel bracket means used in connection with my invention.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 8--8 on Fig.7.

Referring to the illustrations, my invention is generally designated 9 and consists of a collapsible instrument support assembly ID, a collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly II, and telescoping rod means 33. Y

My invention is used in connection with a Solovox instrument designated I 2 having a keyboard [3 with black and white keys similar to that of a piano keyboard. The instrument keyboard I3 is electronically operated and is mounted on an instrument base board 14, having electrical plug connection means 42 which, in connection with electrical cable and plug means 43, provides electrical connection to the electronic tone cabinet 54, which has an electric wall outlet cable 55. In connection with the instrument l2 the attaching means includes a. channel bracket 16 mounted within a clearance cutout IS in instrument base board l4 by attaching means l8. Elongated bracket slots l9 are formed in the bottom of channel bracket I6.

The ends of cantilever support straps 24 are riveted at 45 to the bottom sides of collapsible channel supporting brackets 2 I. The said collapsible channel supporting brackets 2| are oppositely mounted, by pivot pins 26 in bracket mounting holes 46 drilled in opposite sides of flange bushing 25. The said pivot pins or rivets 26 hold the collapsible channel supportin brackets 2| in a tight but pivotable connection with the said flange bushing 25. Th bushing opening 41 is closed on the top by a stop plate 21 held by screw 29 and. stud bolt 30 in tapped blind bores 28. The said stud bolt '30 also serves as a stop'for Solovox knee volume control 4| as shown in Fig. 3. The said flange bushing 25 is tapped at 3| for a set screw 32 which secures the collapsible Solovox support assembly lito. telescoping rod means 33. The said telescoping rodmeans 33 telescopes into tube element 34 which is. the upright part of collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly The said telescopingrod'means;33 is maintained in adjusted position within tube element 34 by clamp means 35 mounted over its split end portion 36. The inwardly bent channel supporting portions 20 of collapsible .chan'nel supporting bracket 2| are tapped at 22..'and, ;in connection with wing nutset screw. 23 :serve to supportthe channel bracket |6 upon .which the iinstrument |2 is mounted. The bracket slot -means. I9. permitssidewise adjustment .of instru- ?.ment;.|2 on collapsiblesupport assembly Ill.

.The clamp means 35 in association with telescopingzrodmeans 33and collapsible and ad- .justable. tripod assembly I permits the "collapsible support assembly |0,-together.with instrument l2, to beraised orlowered'to'the desired height Collapsibletripod legs 3! are mounted 'by hingebearings 138. on tube element 34 and are further. supported by articulate auxiliary tripod leg supports 39, which are hingeablymounted abetween friction. bearing. and rivet .48 on trixpod legs 531 The said friction bearing 40 is mounted friction'ally upon tubeelement-34 and -serves.to.imamtain'the tripod legs. 31-in. open :extended position asshown in'Figs. 1 and 3 or "in the collapsed position as shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 1 and 3 illustratemy mobile, portable .:and collapsible support for instruments in. open, -uprightposition,supporting. an. instrument l2 in jai.playing position. 'Fig. 3 also illustrates the relative. .playing...position.of the right and left --hands.:-49 and .50,..one :.on the. piano' keyboard I, .iithe otheron the melody type instrument keyboard I3. The Solovox register controls '44 :are also-shownin Figt 3 within reach of hand SOJ The' kneevolume control 4|, which is mountedon the underside of the instrument 12, "extends outwardly and rests normally against stop 30 and is manipulated by action of the knee designated'52 and'shown in' Fig. 3, toserve as. a volume control.

2'illustrates the collapsible support "assembly -|0 and the collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly |l disengaged and collapsed and packed in transporting position within a carrying case 53, together with the instrument -'|2. lToassemble my invention, the collapsible support assembly l0 is-mounted and'clamped over the' end of telescoping rod-means 33 of tripod Theinstrument |2 -is secured to the collapsible channel supportingbracket 2| by wing'nutset screws- 23; The instrument is ready for position adjustment and playing when electric cable and plug means-55 are connected to an electrical'wall outlet.

principal advantage in connection withmy -mobile, portable and "collapsible support'for "inelodytype instruments and the like resides in "the flexibility of' usage it im'parts to the melody 4 type instrument. Whereas ordinarily the melody type instrument is attached to a piano keyboard, which limits its use to that particular instrument, with my invention the said melody type instrument may be used in connection with not only difierent pianos but with other musical instruments, and may be adjusted to the proper height for the different musicalinstruments and I the player.

..lents of .the'structural element depicted, provided they fall within the purview of the ap- "pended claims.

.Having- .thus disclosed and revealed my invention, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mobile, portable and collapsible support for melody type instruments andthe like, comprisingcollapsible.and adjustable tripod assembly means, collapsible instrument support means securedxto the said collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means, and set screw means mounted on the said collapsible instrument support: means for releasably retaining andsecuring a melody type instrument, the said collapsible instrument support assembly means including flanged bushing means secured removably to the-said. collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means, cantilever support strap means articulatelysecuredto the bottom 'of .thefsaid flanged bushing means, channel supporting bracket means provided with "inwardly bent channel supporting portions and articulatelysecured to the top portion ofthe said flanged bushingmeans in superimposed relationship with respect to the said cantilever strap support means, pivot pin means mounted in the said flanged bushing means pivotally securing the said cantilever strap support means and the said channel supporting bracket means thereto, the said cantilever strap support means having one end thereof secured to the said channel supporting bracket means'substantially at a-point where it is bent inwardly, and stop plate means secured to the flanged bushing means axially coincident with respect to a vertical axial plane thereof to limit the articulate movement of the said channel supporting bracket meansin col lapsed position thereof.

2. A mobile, portable and collapsible support for melody type instruments and the like, comprising collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means, collapsible instrument support means secured telescopically to the said collapsible and adjustable tripod assemblymeans, and set screw means mounted on the said collapsible instrurnent support means for releasably'retaining and securing a melody type instrument, the said collapsible instrument support assembly means including flanged bushing means secured removably to the said collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means, cantilever support strap means articulatelysecured to the bottom of the said flanged bushing means, channel supporting bracket means provided with inwardly bent channel supporting portions and artic'ulately'secured to thetop portion of the said flanged bushing means in superimposed relationship'with respect to the said cantilever strap support means, pivot pin means mounted in thexsaid 'flanged bushing' means pivotally securing the "said cantileverstrap support means and thesald channel supporting bracket means thereto, the said cantilever strap support means having one end thereof secured to the said channel supporting bracket means substantially at a point where it is bent inwardly, and stop plate means secured to the flanged bushing means axially coincident with respect to a vertical axial plane thereof to limit the articulate movement of the said channel supporting bracket means in collapsed position thereof.

3. A mobile, portable and collapsible support for melody type instruments and the like, comprising collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means, collapsible instrument support means secured to the said collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means, clamping means to secure the said collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means in various heights, and set screw means mounted on the said collapsible instrument support means for releasably retaining and securing a melody type instrument, the said collapsible instrument support assembly means including flanged bushing means secured removably to the said collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means, cantilever support strap means articulately secured to the bottom of the said flanged bushing means, channel supporting bracket means provided with inwardly bent channel supporting portions and articulately secured to the top portion of the said flanged bushing means in superimposed relationship with respect to the said cantilever strap support means, pivot pin means mounted in the said flanged bushing means pivotally securing the said cantilever strap support means and the said channel supporting bracket means thereto, the said cantilever strap support means having one end thereof secured to the said channel supporting bracket means substantially at a point where it is bent inwardly, and stop plate means secured to the flanged bushing means axially coincident with respect to a vertical axial plane thereof to limit the articulate movement of the said channel supporting bracket means in collapsed position thereof.

4. A mobile, portable and collapsible support for melody type instruments and the like, comprising collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means, collapsible instrument support means secured telescopically to the said collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means, clamping means to secure the said collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means in various heights, and set screw means mounted on the said c01- lapsible instrument support means for releasably retaining and securing a melody type instrument, the said collapsible instrument support assembly means including flanged bushing means secured removably to the said collapsible and adjustable tripod assembly means, cantilever support strap means articulately secured to the bottom of the said flanged bushing means, channel supporting bracket means provided with inwardly bent channel supporting portions and articulately secured to the top portion of the said flanged bushing means in superimposed relation" ship with respect to the said cantilever strap support means, pivot pin means mounted in the said flanged bushing means pivotally securing the said cantilever strap support means and the said channel supporting bracket means thereto, the said cantilever strap support means having one end thereof secured to the said channel supporting bracket means substantially at a point where it is bent inwardly, and stop plate means secured to the flanged bushing means axially coincident with respect to a vertical axial plane thereof to limit the articulate movement of the said channel supporting bracket means in collapsed posi tion thereof.

JOSEPH S. TATAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,006,155 Walberg Oct. 17, 1911 1,045,583 Mills Nov. 26, 1912 1,256,279 Wannamaker Feb. 12, 1918 1,670,397 Yingling May 22, 1928 1,803,534 Leevo May 5, 1931 1,895,705 De Luca Jan. 31, 1933 2,375,21 Creedon May 8, 19 15 

